Jan 22, 2014 8 commentsQuantum mechanics in action
Physicists in the UK claim to have shown unambiguously that the high efficiency of photosynthesis is driven at least partly by a purely quantum-mechanical phenomenon. Their work could lead to discoveries of other quantum processes in biology, or help in the development of new and better technologies for harvesting solar energy.
Arguably the most important chemical reaction on Earth, photosynthesis allows a plant to harness sunlight by converting carbon dioxide and water into energy-rich carbohydrates. For the most part, this takes place in chlorophyll molecules, which are arranged such that neighbouring molecules have different energy levels. When light shines on one of these molecules, an electron is momentarily excited before passing its energy over to a nearby molecule with a slightly lower energy level. In this way, energy can flow "downhill" from energy level to energy level, via different routes, until it reaches a reaction centre where actual photosynthesis occurs.
Scientists had previously assumed that the energy moves downhill in a random walk – an incoherent "hopping" between energy levels. But this mechanism does not explain how solar energy is transferred so quickly to a reaction centre, which allows photosynthesis to proceed with energy efficiencies of 95% or more. In recent years, various theoretical and experimental studies have suggested that quantum mechanics plays a role, by transporting energy in a wave-like manner. But for all the results, an explanation based on classical physics could never be ruled out, according to Alexandra Olaya-Castro and Edward O'Reilly of University College London (UCL) in the UK. Quantized vibrations

Olaya-Castro and O'Reilly claim to have uncovered the first unambiguous evidence for quantum effects by doing a theoretical study of the vibrational motion of chromophores – colour-producing molecules such as chlorophyll. Drawing inspiration from the field of quantum optics, where specialist techniques have been developed for characterizing the quantum-mechanical nature of light, the researchers showed that the absorption of a photon of sunlight generates an electronic excitation, the energy of which matches a collective vibration of two chromophores. So long as this vibrational energy is greater than the surrounding thermal energy, the researchers say, then a quantum of energy can be exchanged from one chromophore to the other.
Olaya-Castro and O'Reilly knew that this energy exchange was purely a quantum effect when they tried to plot a probability distribution of fluctuations in the occupation of the vibrational mode and found that these variations were too small to allow a classical description. "This unambiguously demonstrated that the phenomenon described has no classical analogue," says O'Reilly.
"I'm happy to see this paper published – it's a breakthrough," says Gregory Scholes, a chemist at the University of Toronto who has studied the quantum effects of photosynthesis. "There has been a lot of debate in the literature and at meetings lately about the interplay of vibrations – which [we] assumed to confer only classical effects – and electronic coherence in light harvesting. This new work takes the debate to a new level by showing that it is precisely this interplay that makes the system function quantum mechanically!" "Non-trivial quantum effects"

Scholes adds that the UCL work "points the way" to experiments that directly detect the signatures of quantum effects. Moreoever, says Olaya-Castro, such quantum signatures might not only be found in photosynthesis: specific vibrational motions are also thought to be involved in other biological processes such as vision, smell and enzyme reactions. "Our results suggest that a careful inspection of the dynamics and fluctuations of these 'good vibrations' of molecules in their excited states could benchmark a common principle for non-trivial quantum effects in biology," she adds.
The understanding of photosynthesis is particularly important, however, because of the need to develop methods of harnessing solar energy. "The research on quantum effects in biology has the potential to provide invaluable insights on how to achieve robust, quantum-enhanced energy transfer," says Olaya-Castro.

So....would this be a possible verification of healthier plants coming from playing classical music or playing bird sounds? -granger

This study seems to be about photosynthesis but they said there may be other factors including smell and stuff.

I have often wondered about sound in the grow room, fans and ballasts, and wonder if they affect growth. I've heard of music being played to affect plant growth, classical good and rock bad. Have never seen a study though.

Also heard that smoke will cause reactions in plants, they will do something (?) to prepare for a forest fire.

it appears to me, that the mechanics of photosynthesis correlate closely with hydroxy gas seperation through electrolysis of H2O.

the vibration is electric. it is the natural wave occillation of light that excites, creating an electric potential gradient that calves electrons from carbon dioxide to create longchain carbon molecules which are converted to ATP (energy).

this is my understanding of the process.

whether or not music anything to do with this is conjecture on my part...but i believe the plants just like music...soothing music that calms them.

google for a study on music.

__________________"I'm not always a dick...but when I am, I drink cheap beer".

So....would this be a possible verification of healthier plants coming from playing classical music or playing bird sounds? -granger

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoadRash

I have a hunch that loud music helps plants by increasing respiration (breathing).

The music causes air movement around the plants. Like adding an extra oscillating fan or something.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baked Alaskan

This study seems to be about photosynthesis but they said there may be other factors including smell and stuff.

I have often wondered about sound in the grow room, fans and ballasts, and wonder if they affect growth. I've heard of music being played to affect plant growth, classical good and rock bad. Have never seen a study though.

Also heard that smoke will cause reactions in plants, they will do something (?) to prepare for a forest fire.

I have no scientific evidence just stoner myths. Stoners!!!

Abstract

The effects of two different sonic exposures on two vegetables, namely Chinese cabbage and cucumber at two growth stages, including seedlings and mature plants were investigated. The 3 h exposures included either 20 kHz sound waves or “green music” that comprised classic music and natural sounds such as those of birds, insects, water, etc. Analysis of variance between groups (ANOVA) was used to determine the appropriate statistics parameters for the different treatments. Both exposures caused significant elevations in the level of polyamines (PAs) and increased uptake of oxygen O2 in comparison with the controls. For Chinese cabbage the highest PAs’ levels were determined for both seedlings and mature plants that were exposed to “green music”. The oxygen uptake in Chinese cabbage also increased as a result of sonic exposures, and the highest oxygen uptake was also observed after “green music” treatment. For cucumber, the highest content of PAs for both seedlings and mature cucumber plants was determined as a result of 20 kHz ultrasound exposure. 20 kHz exposure of mature plants also resulted in the highest level of oxygen uptake. No statistically significant differences in the vitamin C level were determined between the different sonic treatments and sham exposed vegetables.

Music can greatly influence the growth of plants. In the present paper, the effect of music was studied on the growth of the selected plant – Mung (Phaseolus aureus) and it was found that seed germination as well as growth of the plant was enhanced as compared to control set. Two sets were selected – one treated with piece of music and second set untreated i.e. control. Amongst the two set, music treated plants shown better performance in terms of the seed germination and growth of plant. Number of seeds germinated, root length, plant height, number of leaves, leaf size was found to be more for the plants subjected to music and less for the control set.https://scholar.google.com/scholar?st...en&as_sdt=0,48

more on google...

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I alwas wonder how earths frequency 7.5hz plays inyo the role of plant growth. And if it would increase or decrease if played through a large subwoofer capable of handling that for extended periods of time.

plants must have coherent resonance with earth, which is around 7.5 hz
the range of audible vibration is dependant on atmosphere whereas the vibration of light is orders of magnitude higher (in scale) than that of sound, independant of atmosphere.

we cannot determine whether or not plants utilize a particular frequency of sound, but they do utilize light (at whatever frequency) to photosynthesize.

it's an invigorating subject.

__________________"I'm not always a dick...but when I am, I drink cheap beer".